Dave Clarke is the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Quinnipiac University and a member of the US National Coaching Staff. He also has worked with the Republic of Ireland Women's National team.
Group A – Germany, France
Germany are the defending champions and have talent, depth, experience, home field advantage, etc. They all add up to the Germans topping their group and setting the stage for the real tests in the knock out stage.
France is another of the European teams that have benefited from the coaching and league structure in place in their country. They were impressive in qualifying and have players playing at home and abroad. Like other teams in the tournament they benefit by not playing the top team in their first game. Canada will suffer a heavy defeat against the Germans while France will pick up three points against Nigeria. Their second game against the Canadians will determine the runners up spot. Had the fixtures been reversed I would have fancied Canada to advance, but they will have to take the game to France which will favor Les Bleus. Carolina Morace has changed Canada's style of play, but they will find the goals hard to come by against Germany and France.
Group B – England, Japan
England has the talent, the depth, the experience, and the luck of the draw to make a run to the final. The manner of their recent win against the USA in London showed they must be taken seriously in Germany. In Kelly Smith they have one of the best players in the world and a match winner that is a must in a major tournament. They will need to win the group to avoid a quarterfinal match up with Germany. A draw against Japan in their final group game will see them achieve that goal.
For the opening half hour against the USA in a recent friendly Japan was much the better team. They played some excellent football, took the US apart especially on the break and asked a lot of questions of the Americans. Their profligacy was their downfall, which the Americans punished. They may be one of the most attractive teams in Germany, but they lack a cutting edge, which will cost them when they need it most.
Group C – USA, Sweden
The depth of talent, level of preparation and the experience of the American squad will assure they top a tough group. That will set the US up for a semifinal against Germany. The Americans might be better served coming second and playing the winner of Group D. Pia Sundhage has changed a lot of things with the team in her time in charge, but there is still an over reliance on certain players and her team is one injury or suspension, to Abby Wambach from losing out on its ultimate goal of a world title.
The schedule has favored the Swedes who will enter their game against Korea on July 2 with three points having beaten Colombia. Meanwhile the Koreans will have played the US in their opener and the physical demands of the game will give Sweden an advantage. There is little to choose between the two teams, but American based Caroline Seger and Lyon's Champions League winning forward Lotta Schelin give the Swedes the edge.
Group D – Brazil, Australia
Brazil has the talent, the depth and the experience to win the group and to advance to the final. The question remains whether they have the level of preparation, fitness and mental toughness to beat the USA or Germany in the final. The draw has been kind and only complacency can see them failing to win the group. If the groups go to form and ranking then Brazil will avoid having to beat both the Americans and the Germans. In Marta and Cristiane they have two players who will cause any team problems. There is no doubt they will score goals in the group stage and will advance, but like the Germans their real tests will be in the knockout stage.
Conventional wisdom says that Norway with their history in the tournament should advance, but one group will throw up a surprise quarter finalist and it could be this one. Separating Australia and Norway may come down to their game on July 7, or goal difference. Avoiding a heavy defeat to Brazil may be key in determining each team's fate. The A-League has provided the current generation of Australian players a platform to develop their game. Their men's team has moved onto the next level and there is no reason why the women cannot join them.
The depth of talent, level of preparation and the experience of the American squad will assure they top a tough group. That will set the US up for a semifinal against Germany. The Americans might be better served coming second and playing the winner of Group D. Pia Sundhage has changed a lot of things with the team in her time in charge, but there is still an over reliance on certain players and her team is one injury or suspension, to Abby Wambach from losing out on its ultimate goal of a world title.
The schedule has favored the Swedes who will enter their game against Korea on July 2 with three points having beaten Colombia. Meanwhile the Koreans will have played the US in their opener and the physical demands of the game will give Sweden an advantage. There is little to choose between the two teams, but American based Caroline Seger and Lyon's Champions League winning forward Lotta Schelin give the Swedes the edge.
Group D – Brazil, Australia
Brazil has the talent, the depth and the experience to win the group and to advance to the final. The question remains whether they have the level of preparation, fitness and mental toughness to beat the USA or Germany in the final. The draw has been kind and only complacency can see them failing to win the group. If the groups go to form and ranking then Brazil will avoid having to beat both the Americans and the Germans. In Marta and Cristiane they have two players who will cause any team problems. There is no doubt they will score goals in the group stage and will advance, but like the Germans their real tests will be in the knockout stage.
Conventional wisdom says that Norway with their history in the tournament should advance, but one group will throw up a surprise quarter finalist and it could be this one. Separating Australia and Norway may come down to their game on July 7, or goal difference. Avoiding a heavy defeat to Brazil may be key in determining each team's fate. The A-League has provided the current generation of Australian players a platform to develop their game. Their men's team has moved onto the next level and there is no reason why the women cannot join them.
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